SACRED JOURNEY

THE RESURGENCE OF INDIGENOUS CANOES

SACRED JOURNEYS

THE RESURGENCE OF INDIGENOUS CANOES

Story

The Sacred Journey Initiative was born out of commitment to our Indigenous canoe way of life and its teachings. After hosting the Tribal Canoe Journey to Bella Bella (Qatuwas 2014) the Heiltsuk Qatuwas Committee supported the idea of legacy projects commemorating the role the Heiltsuk played in the Pacific coast-wide resurgence of the ocean-going canoe, or "Glwa" in Heiltsuk language. While the main goal of the initiative has been the creation of the travelling Sacred Journey Exhibit (launch in 2019), the Glwa Documentary (2017) and the Glwa Mobile and Online Exhibit (2018) have been launched.

“We are honored to be part of such an important project that celebrates Indigenous ingenuity all while fostering knowledge and understanding of ocean literacy with the help of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada and the Heiltsuk Nation. We are looking forward to continuing our work with the Heiltsuk Nation to share their stories of adaptability and resilience with the world.”

" I am pleased to write in support for the Sacred Vessels Project you are developing with the Heiltsuk Nation. This is one of the most exciting projects I have seen in recent years."

- Jack Lohmann, CEO Royal BC Museum

“We are happy to work with Ingenium and DFO to educate the Canadian public about our history and heritage. Reconciliation can only work on the basis of understanding, and that is what Sacred Journey does. We hope to contribute to Canadian society through ancient wisdom and the life changing experiences that our youth are gaining through our traditional canoe culture.”

- Marilyn Slett, Chief Concillor of the Heiltsuk Nation

“Our Government is committed to working with Indigenous partners in a spirit of respect and reconciliation. We are proud to support this one-of-a-kind project, which will enable Canadians to understand the history, rich culture and traditional practices of the Heiltsuk Indigenous People."

- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard